More Beach

These pics are from the days we spent with Jeff's family last week. It was so fun to spend time with them! They had not seen us since February so they were ready for some good time with the grandkids. Ellie Kate and Samuel both were obsessed with their dog Lucy. We ate out a lot and spent more time in the sun! Aunt Jenny was there too and then Uncle Buddy came the last night where he treated us to an amazing dinner at the Fish House in Pensacola. We are so grateful for the wonderful family time that we were blessed to have last week!

Now, we are in full swing at Greek Summit. Students are here and we are settling into our house here in Destin. It is always fun to be around the students and Samuel has already found his favorite guys to bug. Actually the guys here are so great with him and the girls as well. Our kids never lack for attention when we are around college students!

"Australia"

One of my friends shared the "story" below by an anonymous author. I thought it was really cool. Like I have said before my journey to have children has not been one I would have chosen 5 years ago when we started it...because it has been long, difficult, expensive, sad, and very unexpected. However, I wouldn't change a thing because it has also been one of joy and many miracles. The Lord called us on a different type of journey than a lot of other people, but He has given us incredible joy in the way He has provided in the ups and downs of adding to our family! I'm really blessed to have been able to experience pretty much every facet of having a family...adoption, infertility, in vitro fertilization, pregnancy loss, and finally a spontaneous natural pregnancy!

Deciding to have a baby is like planning a trip to Australia. You've heard it's a wonderful place. You've read many guidebooks and feel certain you're ready to go. Everyone you know has traveled there by plane. They say it can be a turbulent flight with occasional rough landings, but you look forward to being pampered on the trip.

So you go the the airport and ask the ticket agent for a ticket to Australia. All around you, excited people are boarding planes for Australia. It seems there is no seat for you, you'll have to wait for the next flight. Impatient, but anticipating a wonderful trip, you wait, and wait, and wait.

Flights to Australia come and go. People say silly things like, "Relax, You'll get on a flight soon.: Other people actually get on a plane and then cancel their trip, to which you cry, "It's not fair!"

After a long time the ticket agent tells you, "I'm sorry, we're not going to be able to get you on a plane to Australia. Perhaps you should think about going by boat."

"By boat!", you say, "Going by boat will take a very long time and costs a great deal of money. I really had my heart set on going by plane." So you go home and think about not going to Australia at all. You wonder if Australia will be as beautiful if you approach it by sea rather than by air. But you have long dreamed of this wonderful place, and finally you decide to travel by boat.

It is a long trip, many months over many rough seas. No one pampers you. You wonder if you will ever see Australia. Meanwhile, your friends have flown back and forth to Australia two or three times, marveling about each trip.

Then one glorious day, the boat docks in Australia. It is more exquisite than you ever imagined and the beauty is magnified by your long days at sea. You have made many wonderful friends during the voyage, and you find yourself comparing stories with others who also traveled by sea rather than by air.

People continue to fly to Australia as often as they like, but you are able to travel only once, perhaps twice. Some say things like, "Oh be glad you didn't fly. My flight was horrible, traveling by sea is so easy." You will always wonder what it would have been like to fly to Australia. Still, you know God blessed you with a special appreciation of Australia, and the beauty is not in the way you get there but in the place itself.

Happy Mother's Day!

I am so thankful and proud to be a mom to my miracles (all 4 of them)! Years ago, I dreaded this day. It was bittersweet seeing the mom's be recognized at Church because I sooooo wanted to be able to stand up. Now in the 3 years that I have been a mom...I haven't even been at Church on Mother's Day. Go figure. The first year we were on summer project, last year I had just had my gallbladder surgery, and this year...we are again on summer project and just didn't make it to a church here. Today, I have been burdened for the women who long to be mothers. I know it's not an easy day. I have prayed for them that the Lord would give peace and comfort and strength to continue to trust in His timing. I have several friends and acquaintances who are still waiting. I ache for them today. I pray that you will be celebrating soon!

Jeff made it a special day for me. He got up with the kids and let me sleep in a little (8:30) - although I did have to get up for a quick trip to the bathroom sink thanks to this latest miracle. They went to Panera and got my favorite bagel with cream cheese and coffee (decaf of course) and then brought it to me in bed. Samuel drew a really cute picture of our family on his card. It had Ellie Kate, Samuel, Daddy, Mama and an egg. Not real sure about the egg...and he couldn't explain it either. Then we also went out for lunch before we had to be back for afternoon meetings.

I love being a mom. It definitely has it's moments of frustration, anger, exhaustion, questions, helplessness, etc., but I am so thankful I have been able to experience one of my deepest longings. It is hard for me to believe that I will hopefully have 3 children in November. Just a little over 3 years ago I didn't know if I would ever be a mom. I love seeing Samuel and Ellie Kate grow and change and I cannot wait to see how the Lord continues to develop them into the people He wants them to be. I cannot wait to meet the little one growing inside of me. I still don't feel completely connected to this pregnancy. I keep waiting for something bad to happen. It is a daily struggle to completely bring my fears to Jesus. Now that I have almost made it to the 2nd trimester I am beginning to hope and believe this might really be happening...by God's grace and mercy.

I am also so thankful for the many women God has put in my life...especially my mom. I don't tell her enough how grateful I am for the example and inspiration she has been to me as my mother. She has such a servant's heart and gives up much of herself for her children. I struggle so much to die to myself as a mom so I am proud to say that I had a great example of what that looks like and can only hope and pray that I can be to my kids what she has been to me (and my brother). She is an amazing grandmother too! I also have a very sweet mother in law who gives a lot of herself to her family. Jeff and I are so blessed to have been raised by such Godly women! Our children are blessed to have such wonderful women in their lives from their 2 grandmothers to their 3 great-grandmothers!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

A Few More Pics

Our attempt at the typical white and khaki beach pics. Jeff loves when we do this:) (can you hear my sarcasm)! We will probably "get" to do some more with Jeff's family! I do love how these turned out even if by the end Ellie Kate was having a meltdown. Sorry for the overload of pictures!

Beach Pics...Round 1

We have been enjoying our vacation so much! It has been great to spend time with my family, and Jeff's family is coming in tomorrow so I'm sure there will be many more pics later this week!

Ellie Kate in the pool

Uncle Ryan with Ellie Kate

Samuel in the pool

Samuel swimming in the hot tub with no swimmies!

My handsome boy!

My beautiful girl!

Soon to be "Aunt" Erin with Ellie Kate
Ellie Kate with Nana and Woody (Samuel was too busy to get in the pic)

The fam

Samuel's Last Day of School

Sadly, today was Samuel's last day at preschool since we are leaving for vacation and our summer project tomorrow. He would have gone about 2 more weeks if we were staying in town. He had such a good year and I am so thankful for his little school and his sweet teachers Miss Shannon and Miss Erin. Samuel grew and learned so much this year. He has come such a long way! I am proud of how much he has accomplished and yet we still have a long way to go. When I think about him going to Kindergarten next year I get a little overwhelmed because I am not sure he is quite ready. We will be working hard this summer and continuing to learn our letters and numbers which is the area of biggest delay right now.

He was a little sad to leave his class today and said he would miss his friends! I'm pretty confident he will quickly forget once we arrive at the beach!

Baby Update

I had a OB appointment on Tuesday and we got to hear the baby's heartbeat on the doppler machine! It was such a wonderful sound. I am now 11 weeks and almost through the "danger period" which would be the first trimester. I am beginning to feel a little less nervous but I do think that I just know too much and have seen too much happen to other women for me to just sail through a pregnancy with no worries. I am thinking of renting one of these for peace of mind between appointments. If I'm feeling nervous, I can just pull out the rented doppler and find my baby's heartbeat! The nurse found it right away on Tuesday and I paid careful attention to where she put the probe so hopefully I could find it too!

I am feeling a little better with the nausea. I haven't been quite as sick as I was with Ellie Kate so that has been nice. I am trying to relax and enjoy every minute, by God's grace...I know this little life is so precious and such a miracle. I don't know if I have truly wrapped my mind and heart around what God has done. I am so thankful for this time and the 11 weeks He has given me!